I like pink and lavender, but for some reason I had never thought to wear them together, color blocked. That is, until I saw a re-run of the 2004, final episode of “Sex In The City” six months ago.
In this episode there is a scene that takes place in the Chanel boutique in New York that features Charlotte York, my favorite character on the show. I can’t remember exactly now, but in this scene I think she’s wearing a wool lavender coat with a pink ensemble underneath–or vice versa; please forgive! The point is, her outfit was separates in solid blocks of those two colors, a technique called color blocking. It can be done several different ways. If you pair items in bold, complementary colors, opposites on the color wheel, the look can be dramatic, even jarring. A more subtle effect is combining analogous colors, colors next to each other on the color wheel. This creates a softer, more gentle transition from color to color. It’s more monochromatic, and it’s what Charlotte did.
She also was carrying a pink Chanel quilted caviar leather bag with a leather and gold shoulder chain. I noticed the bag, because it was the exact–and only–Chanel bag I own. I love everything about Charlotte York (read why here), and I really loved this outfit. The effect was soothing and very feminine.
So recently, I tried out a late-summer version of this Charlotte combination using separates I’ve owned for years (although, my version isn’t monochromatic, like hers). I paired a lavender fit and flare skirt with a pink sleeveless button-up shirt, pink sweater over my shoulders, and the Chanel bag. I shot it on a Sunday morning in front of Brambles English Tea Room (which was closed that day). Brambles is tucked into a pretty courtyard off Fifth Avenue South in Naples, Florida.
Although I know I’ll never be Charlotte–and on this day the wind storm didn’t help much either–I think the outfit looks pretty cute. ~Janis Lyn Johnson
Skirt: Battibalend (Flared Crepe Skirt In Pink At Talbots ; Pencil Skirt In Pink Or Pastel Blue at Talbots / Shirt: Brooks Brothers (Sleeveless Pastel Blue Here; Long Sleeve in Pastel Blue or Pink Here) / Cardigan: Ann Taylor (3/4 Sleeve And Cropped Here / Shoes: Lilly Pulitzer (Similar Idea In A Sandal-Wedge Splurge At Nordstrom) / Bag: Chanel Customer Service.
I color block a lot . Since I make jewelry, it acts as a display for it. Good job on the colors. I mix colors all the time.
I visited your site, Crystel, and your jewelry is so pretty! Thanks for complimenting my colors!
Those clothes are so pretty janis,you are so much lovely you know,I really love your great taste,I said everytime “what a beautiful smile and smart lady”when I watched your videos,then smile more please lol,Your style so fresh and airy for me,of course classic lol… I love flats and wedges,theyre so good under dresses and jeans,I’am obsessed maxi dresses,could you do summer lookbook with lots clothes in one video?some of dresses and with cute outfits?
Lots of great videos vlogs and pieces thanks for sharing,please upload more vlog.Happy days.
Rose, I love your enthusiasm. Thank you for saying such nice things. Thank you, too, for your great suggestions and requests. Happy days to you, too! ~Janis
I saw much tea pictures and cafes all amazing.Remind me of one question.
P:S:What is your best tea?
I currently drink Hampstead Loose Leaf green tea. (For past 4 years). The leaves are grown in the Himalayas. It’s quite lovely. I also like Harney and Sons loose leaf organic breakfast tea (drank it for about 10-15 years); but I don’t buy it anymore since I switched to green tea. ~Janis
Really enjoyed your videos and posts,smart parts,more vlog and lookbook videos please.
Thank you, Evelyn. I’m so glad you like them! I’m working on more vlogs! ~Janis 🙂
Hi Janis
What a treat to find an English tea shop in Naples . Looks like you had a lovely lunch with your girlfriends . You all look very elegant .
On Saturday I visited a village called Long Melford in Suffolk .
They have a wonderful tea shop there called “Fanny Anne’s ”
The waitresses were dressed in black dresses , white aprons & mop caps . Very like the “Nippys ” from the Lyons Corner House tea room in London in the 1930s
Art nouveau decor beautifully done . We felt we’d stepped back in time . Worth a visit if anyone reading this visits Suffolk , England .
Hope all well , summer has at last arrived in England ? Kim
Kim, the tea shop you visited in Long Melford, Suffolk, sounds so, so lovely! If you would like to see a little more of the inside of this Naples English Tea Room (Brambles), I did a fashion video and vlog there last January. Here is the link:https://jljbacktoclassic.com/archives/5565 . Thank you for your fun comment. I so enjoy hearing about anything in your beautiful country! ~Janis
Thankyou Janis , I will take a look & enjoy .
Suffolk is a very pretty county . I was actually in Long Melford and a town nearby called Clare to browse the antique shops of which there are many . I’m looking for a particular shaped cut glass & silver perfume bottle which my husband has kindly offered to buy me for my birthday . I didn’t find it this time but I’ll keep up the search , it’s fun looking . We did buy a very attractive piece of French glass for our sideboard , we are currently having some decorating done in our home & fancied something different . It’s a long narrow dish really but one end curves up & over like a huge wave .
All sounds very typically English doesn’t it , antique shops & afternoon tea . Ha ha
It is nice to escape modern life sometimes though .
Keep well ??
Ps a sideboard is a longish waist height cupboard / drawers we have in our dining room where we keep crockery , glassware , napkins , table mats etc . That type of thing . Not sure if it would be described as such in America .